FPICOT2217B
Visually stress grade cypress

This unit describes the outcomes required to visually stress grade cypress by testing material for strength and durability against set classificationsGeneral workplace legislative and regulatory requirements apply to this unit; however there are no specific licensing or certification requirements at the time of publicationThis unit replaces FPICOT2217A Visually stress grade cypress

Application

The unit involves visually stress-grading cypress in a forest products factory

The skills and knowledge required for competent workplace performance are to be used within the scope of the person's job and authority


Prerequisites

Not Applicable


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Prepare for stress-grading

1.1. Applicable occupational health and safety (OHS), environmental, legislative and organisational requirements relevant to visually stress-grading cypress are identified and followed

1.2. Work order is reviewed and clarified with appropriate personnel

1.3. Grading requirements are identified in line with site procedures, standards and specifications

1.4. Materials, hardware items, tools and equipment requirements are identified from work order and obtained in line with workplace procedures

1.5. Cypress to be graded is positioned to provide appropriate access and facilitate efficient workflow

1.6. Communication with others is established and maintained in line with OHS requirements and site procedures

2. Evaluate cypress

2.1. Cypress is identified and status of seasoning is checked in line with site procedures

2.2. Size and tolerance measurements are recorded accurately in line with site requirements

2.3. Characteristics are established and evaluated in line with standards and product specifications

2.4. Moisture content is checked, measured and evaluated against standards and seasoning requirements

3. Grade cypress

3.1. Cypress is visually stress graded based on grading standards and criteria in line with required structural grade

3.2. Characteristics with the greatest limiting effect on the grade are diagnosed and checked

3.3. Appearance criteria are assessed and timber is marked, segregated and disposed of in line with site procedures and environmental requirements

3.4. Results of grading are recorded and reported in line with workplace procedures

Required Skills

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level required for this unit.

Required skills

Technical skills sufficient to identify and apply correct methods and procedures when preparing, evaluating and grading cypress; use and maintain relevant tools, machinery and equipment; efficiently and safely visually stress grade cypress

Communication skills sufficient to use effective communication and interpersonal techniques with colleagues and others; locate, record and report information

Literacy skills sufficient to follow legislation, regulations, standards, codes of practice and established safe practices and procedures when visually stress-grading cypress; access, identify and apply information relevant to visually stress-grading cypress

Numeracy skills sufficient to estimate, measure and calculate sizes and time required to complete a task

Problem solving skills sufficient to review and identify work requirements; identify problems, malfunctions and defects; demonstrate appropriate response procedures

Required knowledge

Applicable commonwealth, state or territory legislation, regulations, standards, codes of practice and established safe practices relevant to the full range of processes for visually stress-grading cypress

Environmental protection requirements, including the safe disposal of waste material

Organisational and site standards, requirements, policies and procedures for visually stress-grading cypress

Environmental risks and hazards

Criteria for recycling and re-using timber with inappropriate defects or contamination

Visual stress-grading techniques

Grading markings and standards

Methods of visual inspection

Characteristics and properties of cypress

Stress-grading equipment calibration and grade thresholds

Storage systems and labelling procedures

Established communication channels and protocols

Problem identification and resolution strategies, common fault finding techniques

Types of tools and equipment, and procedures for their use, operation and maintenance

Appropriate mathematical procedures for estimating and measuring, including calculating time to complete tasks

Procedures for recording and reporting workplace information

Evidence Required

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to provide evidence that they can visually grade cypress by following stress-grading rules and regulations

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to, and satisfy, all of the requirements of the elements of this unit and include demonstration of:

following applicable commonwealth, state or territory legislative and regulatory requirements and codes of practice relevant to visually stress-grading cypress

following organisational policies and procedures relevant to visually stress-grading cypress

communicating and working safely with others in the work area

preparing for stress-grading, including accurately interpreting grading requirements

stress-grading cypress in readiness for storage or processing

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Competency is to be assessed in the workplace or realistically simulated workplace

Assessment is to occur under standard and authorised work practices, safety requirements and environmental constraints

Assessment of required knowledge, other than confirmatory questions, will usually be conducted in an off-site context

Assessment is to follow relevant regulatory or Australian Standards requirements

The following resources should be made available:

workplace location or simulated workplace

materials and equipment relevant to undertaking work applicable to this unit

specifications and work instructions

Method of assessment

Assessment must satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the FPI11 Training Package

Assessment methods must confirm consistency and accuracy of performance (over time and in a range of workplace relevant contexts) together with application of required knowledge

Assessment must be by direct observation of tasks, with questioning on required knowledge and it must also reinforce the integration of employability skills

Assessment methods must confirm the ability to access and correctly interpret and apply the required knowledge

Assessment may be applied under project-related conditions (real or simulated) and require evidence of process

Assessment must confirm a reasonable inference that competency is able not only to be satisfied under the particular circumstance, but is able to be transferred to other circumstances

Assessment may be in conjunction with assessment of other units of competency

The assessment environment should not disadvantage the candidate

Assessment practices should take into account any relevant language or cultural issues related to Aboriginality, gender or language backgrounds other than English

Where the participant has a disability, reasonable adjustment may be applied during assessment

Language and literacy demands of the assessment task should not be higher than those of the work role


Range Statement

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

OHS requirements:

are to be in line with applicable commonwealth, state or territory legislation and regulations, and organisational safety policies and procedures, and may include:

personal protective equipment and clothing

safety equipment

first aid equipment

fire fighting equipment

hazard and risk control

fatigue management

elimination of hazardous materials and substances

safe forest practices, including required actions relating to forest fire

manual handling, including shifting, lifting and carrying

Environmental requirements may include:

legislation

organisational policies and procedures

workplace practices

Legislative requirements:

are to be in line with applicable commonwealth, state or territory legislation, regulations, certification requirements and codes of practice and may include:

award and enterprise agreements

industrial relations

Australian Standards

confidentiality and privacy

OHS

the environment

equal opportunity

anti-discrimination

relevant industry codes of practice

duty of care

Organisational requirements may include:

legal

organisational and site guidelines

policies and procedures relating to own role and responsibility

quality assurance

procedural manuals

quality and continuous improvement processes and standards

OHS, emergency and evacuation procedures

ethical standards

recording and reporting requirements

equipment use, maintenance and storage requirements

environmental management requirements (waste minimisation and disposal, recycling and re-use guidelines)

Work order is to include:

instructions for visually stress-grading material

and may include:

type

width

length

thickness

quantity

instructions for the environmental monitoring of work and procedures

environmental care requirements relevant to the work

Appropriate personnel may include:

supervisors

suppliers

clients

colleagues

managers

Grading

is the process of visually evaluating material characteristics for classification into various strength and structural grades

Standards may include:

Australian Standards

requirements established by the client

requirements established by the producer

Equipment may include:

vernier callipers

profile gauges

moisture meters (resistance and capacitance)

tapes

marking implements

Cypress:

white cypress is a softwood renowned for its durability in ground as well as its termite-resistant properties

and must be:

native timber species

dressed

rough sawn

Communication may include:

verbal and non-verbal language

constructive feedback

active listening

questioning to clarify and confirm understanding

use of positive, confident and cooperative language

use of language and concepts appropriate to individual social and cultural differences

control of tone of voice

Seasoning

is the process of drying timber either with kilns or air-drying methods

Tolerance

is the enterprise-accepted deviation from the perfect specifications

Characteristics may include:

knots

borer holes

stain

checks

tight resin pockets

shakes

wane

want

heart and heart shakes

decay and compression failures and fractures

colour

density

texture

grain

figure

qualities

uses

Moisture content

is the amount of moisture maintained in timber after kiln drying or production to avoid cracking and deforming

Structural grade is to include:

structural conformity of the timber

consistency of the structural quality

free of defects which may weaken strength, such as knots, shakes and short grain

Appearance is to include:

assessing the appropriateness of:

defects

contamination

timber colours

surface characteristics

colour

grain pattern

Disposing of may include:

recycling timber with inappropriate defects or contamination

re-using timber with inappropriate defects or contamination

redirecting timber with inappropriate defects or contamination for energy recovery

Records and reports may include:

stress-grading requirements

product type and size

inspection information

grading and marking outcomes

storage locations

quality outcomes

hazards

incidents

equipment malfunctions

and may be:

manual

computer-based system

other appropriate organisational communication system


Sectors

Not Applicable


Competency Field

Common Technical


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills


Licensing Information

Refer to Unit Descriptor